Chapter 27 – WORLD WAR II &THE COLD WAR

Section 1 – World War II

World War II Begins

• After World War I, Italy and Germany turned to a political theory known as fascism. – Fascism – strong government headed by one

individual.

Benito Mussolini(Italy)

Adolf Hitler(Germany)

World War II Begins

• When Germany forces invaded Poland in September 1, 1939, World War II began.

• Great Britain and France declared war on Germany.

World War II Begins

• In Asia, Japan built up its military strength and invaded China in 1937.

• On December 7, 1941 Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to try to stop United States from preventing Japan to expand their control of the Pacific

World War II Begins

• Doris Miller became a hero during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

World War II Begins

• On December 8, 1941, U.S. declared war on Japan. Three days later, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S.

• United States was now fighting with the Allies – Britain, France, and the Soviet Union, against the Axis Powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan.

World War II Begins

• Thousands of Texans rushed to enlist.

• Audie Murphy was the nation’s most decorated soldier of the war with 33 awards and medals.

World War II Begins

• General Dwight D. Eisenhower served as commander of all allied forces in Europe.

• Admiral Chester W. Nimitz commanded the U.S. fleet in the Pacific.

General Eisenhower

Admiral Nimitz

World War II Begins

• Oveta Culp Hobby organized and commanded the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC).

Texas Home Front

• 1.2 million army soldiers and 200,000 pilots trained at military bases in Texas.

• Many local economies within the state were boosted as Texas businesses provided services to military bases.

• As thousands of new jobs were created, the state’s economy boomed and the depression came to an end.

Texas Home Front

• Growing economy provided new opportunities for people.– 500,000 Texans,

including African Americans, moved to the cities to work in booming industries.

Texas Home Front

• Like many other Americans, Texans made sacrifices for the war effort.

• Goods such as gasoline, meat, rubber, and sugar were in short supply.

• Government rationed, or set aside for each family, a specific amount of goods.

Texas Home Front

• To help feed troops, Texas farmers devoted more land than usual to food crops rather than to cotton. Victory Gardens – small vegetable gardens to grow

extra food.

• Texans also purchased war bonds to finance the war.

Victory for the Allies

• While Texans worked hard on the home front, Texas soldiers fought alongside Allied troops that attacked in North Africa and the Pacific during 1942 and 1943.

Victory for the Allies

• 1st U.S. Division to invade Europe was the 36th Infantry Division from Texas.

• 90th Infantry suffered heavy causalities as it fought its way across Europe.

• D-Day (June 6, 1941) Allied troops invaded France to drive out the Germans.

Victory for the Allies

• Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945.

• As Allied forces entered Germany, they discovered death camps in which millions of people had been killed.

• Holocaust – Germany’s attempt to kill the Jews of Europe. Around 6 million Jews were killed.

Victory for the Allies

• War in Europe ended, but the war in Pacific still continued.

• Texas units, included 103rd Infantry Division and 144th Infantry Division, saw extensive action in the Pacific.

• On August 6, 1945, United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Three days later, the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.

Hiroshima, Japan

Nagasaki, Japan

Victory for the Allies

• Japan surrendered on September 2, 1945.

• World War II was over.

• Some 50 million people died worldwide as a result of the war. Of the more than 400,000 Americans who died, 23,000 were Texans.

Victory for the Allies

• Texans and the people around the world turned to the task of rebuilding after the war.